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Weights and Measurements

Dimensions (Approx.) : 3-1/4 x 3-1/2” (81 x 88mm)

Weight (Approx.) : 20.4 oz (577g)

Features

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Aspherical lens elements

Aspherical lens design dramatically reduces spherical aberration while also reducing lens size and weight. Spherical aberration is a slight misalignment of the light rays projected on the image plane. This is caused by differences in refraction at different points on conventional spherical lenses which degrade image quality in large-aperture lenses. Specially shaped “aspherical” elements near the diaphragm restore alignment of light rays at the image plane, maintaining high sharpness and contrast even at maximum aperture and can also be used at other points in the optical path to reduce distortion. Well-designed aspherical elements can reduce the total number of elements required in the lens, thus reducing overall size and weight.
Advanced Aspherical (AA) elements are an evolved variant, featuring an extremely high thickness ratio between the center and periphery. AA elements are exceedingly difficult to produce, relying on the most advanced molding technology to consistently and precisely achieve the required shape and surface accuracy, resulting in significantly improved image accuracy and quality.

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ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass

As focal lengths get longer, lenses built with conventional optical glass have difficulties with chromatic aberration, and as a result images suffer from lower contrast, lower color quality, and lower resolution. ED glass dramatically reduces chromatic aberration at telephoto ranges, and provides superior contrast across the entire image, even at large aperture settings. Super ED glass provides enhanced compensation for chromatic aberration.

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SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor)

SSM is a piezoelectric motor that contributes to smooth and silent AF operation. The motor produces high torque at slow rotation, and provides immediate start and stop responses. It is also extremely quiet, which helps keep autofocusing silent. Lenses that feature SSM also include a position-sensitive detector to directly detect the amount of lens rotation, a factor that improves AF precision overall.

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Distance encoder

The distance encoder plays an integral part in ADI flash metering, which delivers high precision flash metering that is unaffected by the reflectance of subjects or backgrounds. The distance encoder is a lens component that directly detects the position of the focusing mechanism, and sends a signal to the CPU in order to measure distance to the subject. During flash photography, this data is very useful in calculating how much flash output is appropriate to the scene.

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Internal focusing

Only the middle groups of the optical system move to achieve focus, so the overall length of the lens does not change. Other important benefits include fast autofocusing and a short minimum focusing distance. Also, the filter thread at the front of the lens does not rotate, which is convenient if you’re using a polarizing filter.

Rated 4.9 out of 5 by 10
reviewers.

Rated 5 out of 5 by Successful Solid Lens, Great Purchase
This is a wonderful piece of glass.
The feel of it in your hand is great, and it is better built than the CZ 16-80mm. If you don't need the extra reach, I definitely suggest this lens over the CZ given that it's faster and has the SSM in it.
A little on the hefty side, but it's a fairly large lens but the build quality of it is outstanding.
Only thing that I found cumbersome is the 72mm diameter for filters; given that filters are fairly expensive these days.
Overall, this was a great purchase and it's becoming one of my favourite lenses!
January 28, 2012

Rated 5 out of 5 by markrathgeber Amazing sharpness for the price
Honestly, the quality of this glass is amazing. Because I always use cameras with crop sensors anyway, this is a perfect addition to anyone's collection. Constant 2.8 aperture is great for video. Couldn't ask for more.
February 8, 2012

Rated 5 out of 5 by FotoJunkie Awesome Lens
Cant complain with this lens. I use mine with a a77, a65, and a300
April 20, 2013

Rated 5 out of 5 by deltadave44 every sony lens should be this good
simply put...this lens was the reason that i went with the A77 (came coupled with camera body)...and i wasn't disappointed...fantastic sharp results and lightning quick focus...takes a little bit getting used to the weight, but you can't go wrong at all...worth every cent...would give it a sixth star if allowed!!!
July 11, 2013

Rated 5 out of 5 by ABETTERDJ The SONY 16-50MM 2.8 lens is excellent
We've had our SONY 16-50MM 2.8 lens since the beginning of October. We are sooo happy that we bought ours as part of the 2nd SONY SLT-A77 we ordered as a kit.
This lens is our main lens in our wedding photography and concert photography business. We've now taken over 20,000 excellent photos with it. This lens goes with the SONY SLT-A77 like peanut butter and jelly!
When it arrived it was our intention to put it in a head to head test against the MINOLTA 17-35MM 2.8-4 lens that my wife loved so much and sell the loser. When the 2nd shot with the 16-50 appeared on the LCD screen I went back inside the house and prepared my wife to say goodbye to her favorite lens as no head to head test was needed.
We were the official photographers on the Rock Legends Cruise in December and I was a little concerned that she wouldn't be able to zoom in close enough because the stage for one of the venues was a good 30' from front row. The crops were excellent so I'll never have to worry about her distance shots again!
his lens could have easily been labeled a "G" lens and sold for $1000 more and nobody would have complained.
We have lots of photos posted and an in depth review under the SONY|MINOLTA tab on our site. http://www.abetterdj.net
January 7, 2012

Rated 5 out of 5 by TheEnthusiast Killer Lens
I have two G lenses and two Zeiss lenses, and, subjectively, this lens is sharper. It is a perfect match to the A77, which needs the large aperture and super-sharp optical performance. When I bought the A77, I worried that the detectors (pixels) were so tiny and that a lens would have a tough job being sharp enough to take advantage of the sensor resolution. The A77 performance with this lens wildly exceeds even my wildest hopes! I recently took a shot across a wide bay with this lens on the A77. Later I blew it up on a big monitor and zoomed in to see how much detail was there. There was a diagonal white line representing a roof. The line was a perfect stair-step series of white pixels on a dark background. This was a RAW file. There was no visible spillover: just white pixels. I was astonished.
I've seen no problems with chromatic aberration. Colors are strikingly vibrant. Contrast is superb. Also note that it is sealed and less vulnerable to internal dust than most lenses.
A lens like this with F/2.8 across the full zoom range is almost too good to be true. The only imperfection that I've been able to find is some geometric (barrel-like) distortion that is primarily near the center of the image. The A77 completely removes this automatically for jpeg output. You only see it when you shoot jpeg and RAW and compare them. I didn't list it as a con because the A77 cleans it up with no loss of resolution. My only complaint is that there is no way to output a corrected image in a lossless format, which is a complaint on the camera, not the lens. I get around this by running RAW images through DxO software.
Bottom line: if you're buying an A77, you have to buy this lens. If my only Sony camera were the A77, and I could only have one lens, this would be it, REGARDLESS OF PRICE. I'm about to sell my A77 to buy an A99. My one regret is that I can't keep this lens. I believe that for pure optical performance, the A77 with this lens is as good or better than a full-frame camera with the Zeiss f/2.8 24-70mm; and that is a state-of-the-art combination. If you're considering buying just the A77 body and a cheaper lens, take my advice and don't even think about it. This lens will be a sound investment if you take care of it. And money is among our few renewable resources.
September 18, 2012

Rated 5 out of 5 by TechnoGuy simply the best lens for your Sony alpha APS-C
This is a beautiful (albeit not light or cheap) partner for the Sony Alphas, esp. the new A77 and A65. It might be the sharpest of any 16-50 2.8 on the market right now, and it is even sharper than the very pricey alpha mount Carl Zeiss 16-80mm, but of course without the reach at the telephoto end (but balancing that, it is significantly faster). After surfing through many dozens of lens reviews at the phenomenal ImagingResource.com collection of lens tests, not only is this the sharpest 3X zoom range lens for Sony alpha cameras, it right now is the sharpest 16-50 2.8 lens available on any DSLR, full frame or APS-C, for any manufacturer.
It is not an overstatement to suggest that this might be one of if not the finest general purpose lens that anyone has ever made for a digital camera. If you're skeptical of such a claim (and certainly I would be skeptical myself of such a claim without proof), take a close look at the dozens and dozens of lens tests at imaging resource. No zoom lenses even comes close, and it beats many prime lenses (yes, including the prime lenses of those highly touted competitors Canon and Nikon). Given that Sony Alpha 65/77 firmware now corrects all the classic optical distortions (chromatic aberration, vignetting and barrel/pincushion) for lenses that the new firmware has corrective algorithms for (and this includes many of the popular lenses sold by Sony including this one), this lens becomes perhaps the best optical value in digital photography. Again I know that sounds like a grandiose claim, but please, if you're skeptical, look at the testing. This lens is simply a technical tour de force in photographic optics.
Pros:
1) sharpest zoom lens of any kind in the Sony alpha A-mount group - in fact, it is sharper than several of the Sony prime lenses at its best apertures (f4-f5). Sharpest lens of its kind right now for any digital camera.
2) Not bad CA, distortion and vignetting, and close to zero in those problem areas with the A65/A77 firmware corrections.
3) Fast focusing
4) Decent range (3.5X) that covers about 85% of what most people shoot. Perfect for portraits and decent wide angle for landscapes/scenery.
5) Fast - even minimally stopped down to f4 (where it is sharpest), it is faster than many other zooms are wide open (and WAY sharper).
6) Great value when priced against the Nikon/Canon competition (cheaper than any of their glass of even close to this quality).
Cons:
1) Big and heavy (that's what to you have to concede to get a constant aperture 2.8 zoom lens)
2) Not cheap compared to the standard kit lens (a decent 15-55mm option but not nearly as fast or as sharp)
3) Can't be bought with the Alpha 65 as its kit lens (why does Sony do that?)
4) Wish it just went to 65mm.
Overall, this is a killer deal - given that it is as sharp as many prime lens - it offers a no-compromise option for the highest quality images your Sony SLT/DSLR can generate, without having to carry more than two lens - this and a telephoto. Highly, highly recommended.
December 15, 2011

Rated 5 out of 5 by Ghuraify Great as a general purpose
I've just shifted from Canon to Sony. I am very please with the results for this lens equipped with my new A-77. the results are is better than I've expected. I was using Canon 60D and 5D with my amazing Canon 24-70 f/2.8 and I have to admit that this lens is an equal for that expensive 24-70.
Amazing focus due to (SSM), the sharpness is very good as well as the contrast. Overall, it is a very very +very good lens to have.
June 28, 2013